Rav Yaakov Abuchatzeira
The Abir Yaakov, a Moroccan Kabbalist, posek and Rav of Tafilalt, grandfather of the Baba Sali, who passed away in Egypt on his way to Eretz Yisroel.
Biography
Early years
Rav Yaakov Abuchatzeira zt"l, known as the Abir Yaakov, was born in Tafilalt, Morocco. His father, Rav Masud, was the chief Rav of the Tafilalt province, and a tenth-generation descendant of Rav Shmuel Elbaz, the founder of the Abuchatzeira family. The name changed from Elbaz to Abuchatzeira because of a nickname given to Rav Shmuel.
His grandson, the famed Rav Yisroel Abuchatzeira of Netivot, the Baba Sali, would tell how Rav Shmuel once lacked the money for an important journey. He sat down to learn Torah on a straw mat, the custom in those lands in those days, and as he became absorbed in his learning, a miraculous wind carried him to his destination, like a flying carpet. In memory of the wonder, he was called Abu Chatzeira, the master of the machtzeles (mat). It is told that another family tradition, cited by the Chida in Shem HaGedolim, explains chatzeira as chatzer (backyard), a name that came from the time he spent learning Torah in solitude in his backyard.
Chassidim and family relate that Rav Masud heard a bas kol (heavenly voice) announcing that he would bring a great light into the world. Soon afterward, his son Rav Yaakov was born.
Torah and leadership
After his father's passing, Rav Yaakov filled his place and served in the rabbinate until shortly before his own passing. He founded his yeshiva, Abir Yaakov, and he became known forever by that name. He was a Kabbalist, a halachist and a commentator on the Torah, renowned for his piety, and it is told that Eliyahu HaNavi appeared to him.
He loved solitude, and for a time he did not leave the beis midrash all week except on Friday night. He was a master of tzedakah, and his home was open to guests. He gave to the poor who came to him for support.
His son Rav Aharon described his father's daily schedule. He knew the six orders of the Mishnah by heart, and each night he recited eighteen chapters of Mishnah in holiness and purity. Then he reviewed the Shulchan Aruch, the Rambam and the poskim, and searched out their sources in the Gemara. At midnight he took a short rest, and then rose to continue his avodah. He said tikkun chatzos and then turned to Kabbalah. The Etz Chaim of Rav Chaim Vital and the Arizal's Eight Gates opened before him, and the light of the Zohar shone on him as he learned until dawn.
Before sunrise he put on tallis and tefillin and hurried to shul to be among the first ten for the minyan of Shacharis. After davening in his yeshiva in the manner of the pious, he stayed on to learn. He did not return home for meals but ate in the yeshiva, taking only the minimum he needed. Afterward he turned to tzedakah and acts of kindness until nightfall.
Teachings and seforim
His seforim include Torah commentary and ethical works, mostly Kabbalistic in character, among them Maaglei Tzedek, Machsof HaLavan, Pituchei Chosam and Ginzei HaMelech. His responsa on laws of damages and monetary matters are titled Yoru Mishpatecha LeYaakov. His son Rav Aharon published his father's manuscripts.
Later years and passing
Rav Yaakov longed to come to Eretz Yisroel. In the winter of 1879 he set out on the journey, but he fell ill. In a town near Alexandria in Egypt, he told those with him that it had been revealed to him in a dream that he would pass away after the coming Shabbos, and that he accepted the decree of Heaven. He passed away on Sunday, 20 Teves 5640, in Damanhur, near Alexandria.
His children included Rav Masud, the father of the Baba Sali, and Rav Aharon. He left behind four righteous sons.
Legacy
His distinguished descendants include his grandson, the Baba Sali, and his seforim carry his teachings forward.
Stories
The Writings That Protected Themselves
It is told that the Abir Yaakov loved his holy writings so much that he took them along on every long journey. On one such trip, after he arrived in a city, the local rabbonim welcomed him with honor. During the visit it was discovered that someone had broken into his room and stolen his precious manuscripts. A first search found nothing, and the rabbonim tried to comfort him.
The Abir Yaakov answered calmly that he was not worried. If Heaven had decreed that his writings should vanish, it was a sign that they were not wanted, and it would have been better had they never been written.
As he spoke, the thieves burst into the room. They paid no attention to the rabbonim and the local officials, but ran straight to the Abir Yaakov and fell weeping at his feet. They begged forgiveness and confessed that they had stolen the manuscripts, and they were there to return them.
Everyone was amazed as the thieves told their story. After they took the chest of treasure and fled, they came to a river that was usually calm. Suddenly the water began to foam and churn, and rose up to block them, and it seemed that they would be swept away. They turned back, and the river calmed. They tried again, and as soon as they touched the water, the storm returned. They understood that the Hand of Heaven was at work, and they decided to return the stolen writings, which, they saw, knew how to protect themselves.
Teachings
Preparing for Shabbos All Week
Chazal said (Avodah Zarah 2a), "Whoever toiled on Erev Shabbos will have what to eat on Shabbos." The Abir Yaakov taught that this hints at a person who prepares during the six weekdays by learning Torah for its own sake, davening properly and carefully keeping the mitzvos, all with love, awe and joy. Such a person earns the extra three levels of soul on Shabbos Kodesh: nefesh, ruach and neshamah. Whoever does not toil in spiritual matters all week should not expect to enter Shabbos with his soul aflame. He found this in the two verses in Shemos 20:8-10. "Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it" depends on the next verse, "For six days you shall toil."
Maaglei Tzedek, Tav, #400 (Parshas Yisro)
Dan Like a Serpent, Dan Like a Lion Cub
In Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu blesses Dan that he will avenge his people, and that the tribes of Yisroel will be united as one. Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper on the path, biting the horse's heels so that its rider falls backward, and Yaakov adds, "For Your salvation I await, Hashem" (Bereishis 49:16-18). The Abir Yaakov, following Rashi, explained that these verses allude to Shimshon, a descendant of Dan, who fought the Plishtim and united the Jewish people. He struck in guerilla fashion and then slipped away like a snake. His last victory came when he brought down the two pillars of the idolatrous temple (Shoftim 16:29), and his final prayer is hinted at in Bereishis 49:18. In Parshas V'zos HaBrachah Moshe Rabbeinu blesses Dan as a lion cub leaping from the Bashan (Devarim 33:22).
Bereishis 49:16-18; Devarim 33:22 (Parshas Vayechi)
Adding Strength Each Day
On the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (1:13), "Whoever does not add will be subtracted," the Abir Yaakov explained that a person who does not add something new each day in his war with the yetzer hara allows the evil one to overcome and destroy him. The yetzer hara renews his strength every day and finds new strategies against us. If we do not meet him with fresh strength and fresh resolve each day, he will surely defeat us.
Pirkei Avos 1:13
Breaking Desires Is the Best Teshuvah
On the Mishnah in which Rabbi Elazar ben Arach answers that the best path is a good heart (Avos 2:9), the Abir Yaakov taught that the heart is the most important part of the body. The best way to guard and refine it is by breaking our desires and mastering our passions. He saw a hint at the very start of the Torah, since the gematria of the word Bereishis equals that of shaber taavah, break desire. Conquering our desires is the best and highest form of teshuvah. On the Mishnah that asks who is a hero (Avos 4:1), he explained that someone who overcomes his yetzer hara is stronger than any physical fighter, because in a physical contest one faces another human being, while in this struggle one faces a mighty spiritual opponent.
Ginzei HaMelech, Tikkun Teshuvah 21 (on Avos 2:9 and 4:1)
Weapons for the War Against the Yetzer Hara
On the verse "When you go out to war" (Parshas Ki Seitzei), the Abir Yaakov noted that the letters of the word teitzei (tav, tzadi, alef) hint at our weapons. They stand for tefillin, tzitzis and os, meaning the two signs, the bris and Shabbos. They also stand for tefillah, tzedakah and ohr, the light of Torah, as in Mishlei 6:23. They can also stand for taanis (fasting), tzedakah and ohr, which is like the idea of fasting, davening and giving tzedakah to cancel evil decrees. If we take up these mitzvos, Hashem will deliver the evil urge into our hands.
Pituchei Chosam, Ki Seitzeh
A Segulah for Health in Toiling in Torah
The Abir Yaakov taught that Hashem hid a great segulah in learning Torah. Intense effort in Torah weakens the body, but the spiritual strain that goes with learning and keeping mitzvos takes the place of physical suffering or illness, Heaven forbid. A person can suffer only a set amount, and the servants of Hashem fill their measure through toil in their avodah. He found a hint in the verse, "All the sickness that I put on Mitzrayim I will not put on you" (Shemos 15:26). The gematria of machalah (sickness), with the kollel, comes to 89, the same as guf (body). Hashem will bring no physical illness on one who fulfills his obligation through the pain of Torah toil.
Pituchei Chosam, Beshalach (on Shemos 15:26)
The Damage of Lashon Hara
In the list of Mitzrayim's sons (Bereishis 10:13-14), the Abir Yaakov found a lesson about lashon hara. The gematria of Mitzrayim (380) equals that of lashon, spelled without a vav. Ludim, from the word for a newborn, and Anamim, from the word for pleasant, hint that every person is born pleasant and beloved. Lashon hara brings Lehavim, flames of hatred, then Naftuchim, from the word for opening, since it opens the bonds between friends. Patrusim and Casluchim allude to bread and drink, meaning tzedakah, and to war, since even a recipient of kindness can be turned against his benefactor. Finally Caphtorim, from kofer (one who denies) and Torah, means that a person who speaks lashon hara may come to deny the Torah itself.
Pituchei Chosam, Bereishis 10:13-14
Seforim
- Maaglei Tzedek: A Torah commentary of Kabbalistic and ethical character.
- Machsof HaLavan: One of his Torah and ethical works.
- Pituchei Chosam: One of his Torah works; its introduction records his daily schedule.
- Ginzei HaMelech: One of his ethical and Kabbalistic seforim, including Tikkun Teshuvah.
- Yoru Mishpatecha LeYaakov: Responsa on laws of damages and monetary matters.
Family & talmidim
C:
Rav Masud (father of the Baba Sali): Rav Aharon
Also on 20 Teves
All hilulos on 20 Teves ›Historical sources
- Introduction to Pituchei Chosam
- Shem HaGedolim (Chida)